The world medical association : can hope triumph over experience ?

The World Medical Association was set up in 1947 in the wake of outrage about war crimes committed by doctors in Hitler's Germany.

For nearly 50 years it has lurched from one controversy to another, arguing within itself about its funding, its voting system, and the representativeness and political affiliation of some of its member medical associations.

The BMA withdrew from the association in 1984, supporting a breakaway Toronto group including Canada, the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Jamaica.

All but Britain and Jamaica have now rejoined and membership is growing, but the association is still struggling to gain credibility and clout.